Investing in farmland is more accessible (and sustainable) than ever

FarmTogether’s new offering comes at a time when demand for sustainability in agriculture as well as interest in ESG investments is high. It also responds to a need for safe haven assets in the wake of the pandemic’s turbulent effects on the world economy and stock markets.

Accessible investing in a stable asset

Farmland has historically been a safe haven investment — it typically generates returns that outperform the Consumer Price Index, and tends to retain or even gain value when the stock market is shaky.

The asset class represents a $2.7 trillion market traditionally restricted to investors (or companies) with millions of dollars to put into operations. By investing in farmland with creative capital, FarmTogether makes this asset class more accessible to investors.

With the market volatility we’ve seen over the past two years — whose effects we expect to feel for about a decade to come — investors are looking for ways to diversify and hedge their portfolios against inflation, corrections and recessions. Because it’s not tied to the stock market, Farmland could be your way to do that.

Farmland is a commodity-producing asset strongly correlated to the Consumer Price Index, rather than the stock market. Through FarmTogether, you can [make a direct investment in farmland], not securities, that’s likely to be protected from market volatility.

Plus, you get to benefit from the profits in this sector without putting your hands in the dirt!

What is the sustainable farmland fund?

The Sustainable Farmland Fund is FarmTogether’s new fund that gives investors access to Leading Harvest certified sustainable farmland. Agricultural ETFs can work for investors seeking exposure to the short-term price action in agricultural commodities, primarily row crop and livestock prices.

The FarmTogether Sustainable Farmland Fund, on the other hand, offers investors long-term exposure to both row crops and permanent crops … as well as exposure to the real property itself,” said David Chan, FarmTogether COO in an email to MoneyWise.

“The Fund will also provide investors with passive income from both net operating income (crop sales) and rental income, whereas ETFs do not have this advantage.”

The Sustainable Farmland Fund invests in farmland properties and operations around the U.S., featuring crops including tree nuts, citrus and apples. It concentrates on sustainable farmland in California, Washington, Oregon, the upper Midwest, and a small portion in Arizona and Oklahoma.

The Leading Harvest Certification uses third-party audits to measure outcomes-based evidence and verify land and farming practices as sustainable. All of FarmTogether’s farmland assets under management are Leading Harvest certified.

How it works

FarmTogether’s Sustainable Farmland Fund is separate from its crowdfunding product, which lets you choose which operations to invest in. Instead, the Fund invests in a pool of diversified, pre-selected properties, and you can simply choose to invest in the Fund.

That makes this a [hands-off investment] for anyone who wants to benefit from the performance of farmland all over the country.